K Fuel Cell Selected as Lead Institutional Investor for 11.3 Billion Won National Project on Next-Generation Submarine Fuel Cells

*This content was translated by AI.

Fuel cell system specialist K Fuel Cell has been selected as the lead institutional investor for the 'Development of Core Technologies for Renewable Energy' project, supported by the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). Accordingly, K Fuel Cell will secure a total of 11.3 billion won in research and development funding to advance next-generation submarine fuel cell technology.

The selected national project is titled 'Development of a 20kW-class submarine fuel cell system based on nitrogen-cycling mixed gas utilizing commercial fuel cell stacks.' The research and development period extends until December 2029. The project will beed in the form of a consortium involving academia, industry, and research institutions, along with demand-side enterprises. K Fuel Cell, as the lead institutional investor, will lead the effort, with Soongsil University's Industry-Academia Cooperation Division and Ulsan Technopark participating as co-research and development institutional investors. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will participate as a co-research and development institutional investor while simultaneously fulfilling the role of a demand-side enterprise that will utilize the final development outcomes, aiming to enhance the feasibility of demonstration.

Currently, submarines primarily employ Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology of the pure oxygen type, which enables extended submerged operations without external air supply. Through this project, the K Fuel Cell-led consortium plans to secure gas supply, circulation, and control technologies that operate stably in nitrogen-oxygen mixed gas environments. The goal is to expand the selection range of existing AIP submarine systems and implement next-generation propulsion technology that enhances safety and operational efficiency. Upon completion of the technology development, it is expected to be utilized as a power source for various underwater unmanned platforms requiring long-duration submerged operations, including medium and small submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and maritime surveillance and exploration systems.

The parent company, Correns, is a global automotive parts manufacturer possessing exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and automotive thermal management technologies. Through subsidiaries such as Correns EM, Correns RTX, and K Fuel Cell, the group produces electrification components, catalysts for fuel cells, and hydrogen fuel cell systems. Established in 2021, K Fuel Cell has supplied fuel cell vehicle components to domestic automakers based on its hydrogen fuel cell system research and development capabilities. Currently, the company is expanding its product lineup to include applications for ships, buildings, and data centers, leveraging its stack and BOP component technologies, while also pursuing the establishment of overseas supply channels.

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*This content was translated by AI.